Dry shaver



I. FLORMAN Sept. 27, 1938.

DRY SHAVER Filed May 12, 1938 Patented Sept. 27, 1938' UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The invention relates to dry shaving devices. Dry shavers are at present on the market,

which, while for some persons theyoperate verysatisfactorily, are not suitable for all types of beard or skin. A change to a different type of dry shaving device by the user requires the purchase of a completely new unit.

The form of dry shaver commonly used has a shaving head which is arranged between two parallel walls extending from one end of the motor casing. A drive shaft connected to the motor extends up into the groove between these parallel walls and parallel to the walls. The shaving head fits down between the walls, and the movable portion thereof engages an offset pin on the drive shaft, so as to receive a reciprocat ing motion therefrom.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel type of head which is interchangeable with the common type of shaving head, so as to adapt the dry shaver for difie'rent skin and beard conditions. Such a head preferably embodies a portion adapted to engage the walls which form the groove, a thin sheet metal perforated shaving surface, and a cutter movable along the inner face of the shaving surface. This cutter is provided with means adapted to extend within the groove formed by the walls to engage the drive shaft, so that it is possible to mount 30 the cutter on the present drive. shaft, either as it is or with very slight modification, and then to utilize the new head for shaving with the old body and motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel type of shaving head which is more satisfactory in its operation, and which'insures proper and easy shaving action. This head is preferably formed of a. skin-engaging surface of thin, perforated sheet metal, and a'cutter of thin, flexible sheet metal arranged in contact with the rear face of the shaving surface and resiliently pressed thereagainst.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof.

In the drawing: a Fig. 1 shows in front elevation a dry shaver embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a side elevation; Fig. 4 is across section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig, 5 is a bottom plan view of the cutter;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the drive shaft;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a' fragment of the skin-engaging plate;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross section through th drive shaft and sleeve, showing a modification of 5 the connection therebetween.

, The invention is applied preferably to a known type of dry shaver handle comprising a body portion 2 within which is arranged an electric motor or other suitable drive means. At the endof 10 the body portion are projecting parallel walls 4, forming therebetween a groove 6. Extending upwardly within this groove is a drive shaft 8 which is adapted to be rotated by the motor, this shaft being located substantially at'the center of the groove and having its axis extending parallel to the directionin which the walls project from the body. A starting wheel 9 keyed on the drive shaft extends through one wall of the body 2.

Mounted on the top or outer end of the shaft 8 is a pin l0, which is'located eccentrically with respect to the axis of the shaft 8, and rotatable on this pin is a sleeve l2.

This type of body is well known, and is arranged to receive a shaving head consisting of relatively reciprocal parts, operable by the pin II) on the shaft 8. The head is ordinarily secured in place by a screwwhichengages in a hole H in one of the walls 4.,

' In place of the usual head, the present invention contemplates a head of different type. This head comprises a cylindrical body portion l6, which may be of any suitable cross-section. In the form shown in the drawing, the body portion is substantially octagonal, with two opposed sides arcuate. This cylindrical body supports at its upper end a skin-engaging portion, which is formed of thin sheet metal provided with apertures 2a of any suitable shape. As shown in the drawing, these apertures are formed by crossed slots, but within the scope of the invention other forms may be utilized.

The head is of a flexible, resilient sheet metal. 'Preferably it is given substantially the shape'of a watch crystal, that is, the central portion 2245 containing the openings 20' is formed as a part of a sphere of large radius-while the edge portion 24 is bent on a much shorter'radius. The edge portion 24 extends down within the cylindrical body it and is suitably secured thereto. 5

The body portion it is arranged to fit over the walls ,4. As shown in Fig. 3, the body portion is provided at opposed sides, within the arcuate parts, with notches 26 extending upwardly from its lower edge, and providing between them a hair: of the beard pass into the openings as, the

movement of the blade 34 across such openings will shear off these hairs.

The cutter is mounted on a sleeve 38', which is of such dimensions that it will fit within the groove 0. The sleeve is provided wlth'a central opening ll adapted to fit over the shaft 8. At the inner end of the opening II there is a smaller opening eccentric with respect to the opening I8, this opening being of the same size as the sleeve I 2. Evidently when the sleeve It is pushed down on the pin l, as, shown in Fig. 4, until opening ll engages sleeve ii, the cutter it will be locked to the shaft 8 for rotation therewith. In order to hold the cutter in engagement with the under side of the shaving surface 22, I provide a flat leaf spring 42, which is bowed upwardly. This leaf spring flts in the groove t, and has a central opening which fits over the pin I. The spring engages the lower end of the sleeve 36, and this pushes the cutter l4 upwardly into engagement with the shaving surface.

It is evident from the above description that the cutter is interchangeable with the reciprocating type of cutter now in use. However, within the scope of the invention, it might be possible to vary the arrangement of the parts or the type of connection. For example, as shown in Fig. 8,

the sleeve 38 could be provided with a set screw- 44, and the pin 8 could be filed away slightly so as to provide a. flat surface against which the screw could engage. However, it is important that the sleeve should be inserted in the groove 6 without cutting away and weakening the walls of the groove.

The somewhat domed skin-engaging surface 22, with the flat, flexible blade having its surface resting against the under face of the domed shaving surface, provides a construction whichgives excellent results. The domed surface can flex to fit the face, and yet, because of its spherical shape, retains a considerable rigidity. The blade .34 follows the deformations of the dome, and thus cuts the hairs whatever may be the shape of the dome; This is permitted by the flexibility of the end portions of the blade, which have the cutting action, and of the intermediate portions which connect the end portions to the shaft and thus permit movement of the end portions vertically or parallel to the axis of the shaft. During such motion the cutting edges of the blades move in planes parallel to the axis of the shaft. 7

While I have described herein some embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood thatldonotintendtolimitmyselftherebyexa perforated skin-engaging plate carried by said body portion substantially perpendicular to the axisofthedrivingshaftandhavingallpointsof its effective surface in any circle about the axh of the shaft as acenter locatedin the same plane perpendiculartothe axisofthe shaft,means capable of extending within the groove and engaging said shaft to rotate therewith. and 'a rotating cutting member carried .by said last means to rotate about the axiso'f the shaft in en a ement with the under side of said faceengaging plate.

2.Aheadforadryshavlng devicehavinga body provided with upstanding parallel walls forming a groove therebetween and a driving shaft in said groove and extending perpendicular to the length of the groove, comprising a body portion having pairs of notches therein forming tongues therebetween, said notches being adapted to straddle and engage over said walls with said tongues extending into said groove to secure the rotating cutting member carried by said last means to rotate about the axis of the shaft in engagement with the under side of said face-engaging plate.

3. Ina device-as claimed in claim 1, in which said shaft has an offset pin at its free end, said shaft engaging means comprising a sleeve having an opening therein adapted to engage over the shaft, said opening having an oifset communicating portion at its inner end adapted to engage said oil'set pin, whereby to connect said sleeve to said shaft to be driven thereby.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, said skinengaging plate having substantially the shape of a section of a sphere, said cutting member comprising a blade of thin resilient metal withits wider su'rface abutting against the undersurface of said. plate. 4

5. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said shaft engaging means comprising a sleeve having an opening therein adapted to engage overthe shaft,

'and means comprising a leaf spring located within said groove and engaging the lower end of said sleeve for pressing said cutting member upwardly against the-under face of said plate.

'6. In a dry shaver, a head comprising a support, a domed skin-engaging portion carried bysaid support formed of thin, perforated, flexible resilient sheet metal, a normally flat cutting blade formed of thin, flexible resilient sheet metal,

means to support and rotate said cutting blade with its wider surface in engagement with the inner face of said skin-engaging portion about an axis perpendicular to the skin-engaging portion, and means pressing said blade against the undersurface of said skin-engaging portion to bend the blade into conformity therewith.

7. In a dry shaver, a shaving head having a domed flexible perforated skin-engaging portion, a rotatable drive shaft substantially perpendicular to said skin-engaging portion, and cutting means normally in operation abutting the undersurface of said skin-engaging portion comprising a member operatively connected to said drive shaft to be driven thereby, a cutting element having a thin portion extending radially with respect to said drive shaft and located substantially in a plane transverse to the axis of said drive shaft and provided with a cutting edge adjacent said perforated skin-engaging portion adapted to wipe across the perforations thereof, and means operatively connecting said thin portion to said member for rotation therewith while permitting movement of said thin portion with respect to said member in a. direction parallel to the axis of the shaft with said edge moving in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft, whereby said cutting element may abut against the undersurface of said skin-engaging portion while being capable of moving away from such surface.

8. In a dry shaver, a shaving head having a domed flexible perforated skin-engaging portion,

a rotatable drive shaft substantially perpendicular to said skin-engaging portion, and cutting means normally in operation abuttingthe undersurface of said skin-engaging portion comprising amember operatively connected to' said drive shaft to be driven thereby, cutting elements each having a thin portion extending radially with respect to said drive shaft and located substantially in a plane transverse torthe axis of said drive shaft and provided with a cutting edge adjacent said perforated skin-engaging portion adapted to wipe across the perforations thereof, and means operatively connecting said thin portions to said member for rotation therewith while permitting independent movement of said thin portions with respect to said member in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft with said edges moving in planes parallel to the axis of the shaft, whereby said cutting elements may abut against the undersurface of said skin-engaging portion while being capable of moving independently of. each other away from such surface.

IRVING FLORMAN. I 

